Process of reducing and surface-finishing metal tubes, rods, and the like.



M. B. LLOYD. PROCESS OF REDUCING AND SURFACE miinm METAL TUBES, RODS,AND THE LIKE.

, APPLIOAITION FILED AUG. 7, 1912.

I 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

WITNESSES.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

v M. B. LLOYD. v PROCESS OF REDUCING AND SURFACE FINISHING METAL TUBES,RODS, AND THE LIKE.

' APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 7, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. B. LLOYD.

PROCESS OF REDUCING AND SURFAQE FINISHING METAL TUBES, RODS, AND THELIKE APPLICATION FILED AUG- 'Z. 1912.

- WITNESSES:

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

. M. B. LLOYD. PROCESS 0]? BEDUOINQAND SURFACE PINISHING METAL TUBES,RODS, AND THE LIKE.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA UG. 7,1912.

wswswm, o. v I Patented Feb.23, 1915;

v 6 EEEEEEEEEEE T 4.

. M. LLOYD. PROCESS OF REDUCING AND SURFACE FINISHING- METAL TUBES,RODS, AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1912. 1,129,,fl35,

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

6 SH EETSSHEET 5.

WITNESSES."

it il MARSHALL BURNS LLOYD, OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE ELYRIA IRON & STEEL COMPANY, OF ELYRIA, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO.

PROCESS OF REDUCING: AND SURFACE-FINISHING METAL TUBES, RODS, AND THELIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1915.

Application filed August 7,}912. Serial No. 713,851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARSHALL B. LLOYD, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Menominee, in the county of Menominee and State ofMichigan, have invented a certain new, useful, and Improved Process ofReducing and Surface- Finishing Metal Tubes, Rods, and the like, ofwhich the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in the art of reducing tubes, rods,shafting and the like to specified circular cross sections, and furtherrelates to the art of finishing the surfaces of such articles.

The object of my invention is to accurately reduce such articles tospecified sizes, and also surface finish the same more rapidly and atless cost than can be done with known processes.

\Vherever the terms tube and tubing are used in this specification andthe appended claims, they are to be read as meaning and includingvarious elongated cylindrical or substantially cylindrical articles,such as pipes, tubes, wires, rods, and shafting.

My invention consists in holding the elongated cylindrical articleagainst rotation, and simultaneously feeding it forward at asubstantially constant speed, and progressively subjecting its surfaceto circumferential rolling -at relatively high speed. As a further stepof my process I wash and lubricate the rolls with either clear or soapywater while acting upon the surface, to prevent high temperatures, tocleanse the rolls and the articles, and to yield a highly finishedsurface. These and other features and steps of my novel process are morefully described hereinaftcr and are particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in whichI have depicted a machine or apparatus that I find best suited to thecarrying out of the several steps of the process.

In said drawings: Figure 1, is a plan view of such machine; Fig. 2, is aside elevation.

thereof; Fig. 3, is a longitudinal vertical section on the line XX ofFig. 1, enlarged; Fig. 4, is a. further enlarged cross section on theline YY of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, is an end view of one of the roller rings anda number of rolls which completely fill the same; Fig. 6, is alongitudinal section thereof; Fig. 7, is similar to Fig. 5, but showingrolls which do not completely fill the ring; Fig. 8, is a longitudinalsection showing the action of such rolls when in operation; Fig. 9, is aside View of one of the rolls; and Fig. 10, is a similar view of a rollof modified form.

It will be understood that my invention is'not limited to the machineherein shown; nevertheless it admirably serves the ends of my processand is the best means that I have thus far devised for the purpose.

The mechanism shown herein may be used in the continuous tube mill thatis described and claimed in Letters Patent No. 1,027,865, granted May28th, 1912, in which case the, continuous or traveling vise hereinmarked A will replace the mechanism marked E in that patent. On theother hand the herein shown mechanism may be used for reducing andfinishing successive and relatively short pieces of tubing.

As before stated one important stepof my process consists in holding thetube to be reduced, against rotation while it is advancing. I do notattempt to treat the whole length and surface of the tube at one timebut restrict the reducing and finishing forces to one locality and byfeeding the tube forward to and through such locality reduce itsdiameter and progressively finish its surface. -To thus hold the tubingagainst rotation and at the same time positively advance or feed it at aconstant rate of speed, I employ the traveling or continuous vise A, andpreferably also employ a second traveling vise B, which may be of lesslength and relatively of less strength. These traveling vises are fixedupon a bench or table Z, and are driven by a train of gearing C, meansbeing interposed to compensate for the elongation of the tubing betweenthe two Vises, due to the reduction of the tubing by the reducingmechanism. Primarily each vise comprises an endless conveyer equippedwith a plurality of pairs of laterally opening and closing jaws A. Inthe working stretches of the Vises the jaws, A, are closed together uponthe tube. As the jaws grasp the tube in this manner'and as the jawcarrying conveyersare in constant rotation, it is obvious that the tubewill be propelled forward at a substantially constant rate of speed. Thedetail construction Vises is not of material moment in this case, but isclearly described in aforesaid patent. Any series of devices which willaccomplish the simultaneous holdingand propulsion of the tubing may beutilized in lieu of the traveling vises shown. It may be explained thatthe jaws .of the-Vises are provided with grooves, a; which fit the tubeand when opposing pairs of aws are closed in theworking stretch of thedevice they substantially inclose the portion of tubing which theyengage and an effective grippingof the tubing by the vise is thusinsured. It may also be explained that the working stretches, and thejaw grooves thereof, belonging to the two Vises A andB are .arranged inalinement so that the traveling Vises have no tendency to bend ortwist-the tubing.

Throughout the drawings the tubing is indicated by the letter T.

It will be noted that the space between the two Vises is occupied byanother. mechanism or tool D, which is also attached to the table orbench Z. This tool is the rolling appliance which I employ for reducingand finishing the tubing, in the interval of its passage from the vise Atothe vise B. The direction of travel-of the tubing is indicated byarrows in Figs. 1 and 2. I perform the rolling operation, preferably, atvery high speed, accomplishing same by a plurality of annular series ofsmall rolls which are confined circumferentially and with relation tothe tubing. These series, I rotate rapidly, as stated, and each smallroll thereof rolls upon the surface of the tubing at high speed andturns bodily around the tubing many times per minute. The first rolls,or series of rolls force the tubing fed thereto to a round shape and maysomewhat reduce its size. The next series of rolls is confined within asmaller circumference than the first and the tube in its passage reducedin diamextends circumferentially, as opposed to the I eter to the extentof the difference between the internal circumference of the firstannularseries and the internal circumference of the second annular series ofrolls. I employ still otherse'ries of rolls of gradually diminishinginternal or working circumferenee, and by means thereof gradually rolldown or reduce the tubing to specified diam eter and circumference.While thus reducing the size of the tubing to the extent determined bythe pre-arrangement of the redu'cing rolls, I atvthe same time graduallysmooth the surface of'the tubing and form thereon a surface skin, thegrain of which longitudinal grain of the body of the tubing.

To perfect the surface I prefer to add to the number of reducing rolls,one or more series of rolls distinguished by internal workingcircumferences substantially identical with that of the last series ofreducing and surfacing rolls.

While I have mentioned the tubing as bemg held against rotation and suchholding as being an important step of my process, I nevertheless wishthat it be understood that the term holding the tubing against rotation,or the like, is relative or comparative; meaning that it must not bepermitted to rotate at the speed at which the reducing rolls rotate.-Rotation of the tube in a contrary direction or at a less speed in thesame direction, would not exceed the scope of my invention; though theprocess, so practised. wouldcertainly involve the employment of,machinery of far greater complexity and cost. At this point I will alsosay that I have had measurable success in the practice of my process byusing hardened steel balls in lieu of the rollers herein shown. Anannular series of balls, if held in close contact with the tubing androtated rapidly while the tubing moves forward, successfully rounds thetubing and reduces the diameter and circumference thereof, but tends tomark the tube with visible spirals, and thus yields a surface that isnot as fine as that produced by the elongated rolls.

The high speedrolling mechanism D, appearing in Figs. 1 and 2, will bebest understood upon reference to Figs. 3 to 10. The

parts 2 are bearing blocks containing bearings 3, and secured upon a bedplate Z on the table Z. The bearings 3, are in exact alinement andcontain two sleeves 4 and 5.

. Each sleeve contains a central hole 6, (3 to receive the tubing. Inaddition to this central opening, each sleeve contams a larger chamber4, 5, closed at the discharge end by a screw plug 4', 5", respectively.The plugs contain .central openings for the tubing. The chambers 4 and 5are concentric with the axis of the tubing. The sleeves 4 and 5 arelikewise Goncentric with the axis of the tubing. WVithin each chamber 4and 5, I provide a plurality of hardened steel rings R.' The rings aremade to fit snugly within respective sleeves, and keys, 4:, and, 5, holdthem against rotation in respective sleeves. The parts marked, S, arethe small rolls before referred to. For cle'arness of illustration, allof these rolls in Fig. 3 are shown as of the same diameter. It will benoted that the rolls are held against longitudinal movement by internalflanges R, provided on the rings R, for the purpose. The direction oftravel of the tube T is shown by the arrows in Fig. 3.- The diameter ofthe tubing as it approaches the mechanism D is considerably greater thanthe diameter of the tubing as it is discharged and 8 may be driven byfrom that mechanism. This difference has been considerably exaggeratedin Fig. 3, though such a reduction by mv process is not actuallyimpractical. The internal diameter of the ring R, at the receiving endof the mechanism D, is greater than that of any other ring in themechanism. The internal or working circumference of the series of rollsheld in this firstring may be no greater than the circumference of thetube T. atthat point or may be slightly less if desired. The next ringR, is slightly smaller in diameter; and such reduction of diameterproceeds from ring to ring, prefer-.

ably until the last rings including the wide ring R, are reachedin thesleeve 5. The diminishing diameters of the rings are indicated by thedotted lines of Fig. 3, distinguished by the dimension marks w and 'r.

The rolls in each ring may bear that re lation to the ring and tubewhich is depicted in Figs. 5 and 6, or their relation may be as depictedin Figs. 7 and 8. In the case of Figs. 5 and G, the rolls S, bear oneagainst the other and snugly fill'the ring R. Such rolls maintainpositions parallel with the axis of the tubing, when the containing ringR is rotated about the same. In the case of Figs. 7 and 8, the rolls arerelatively smaller and the series thereof does not completely fill thecontaining ring. In consequence,

spaces areleft between the rollers, as shown in Fig. 7. In both cases,the tubing obviously completely fills the opening within the series ofrolls, and the external circumference of the tube T, depicted in Figs. 5and 7, is identical with the before mentioned internal or workingcircumference of the rolls. The difierence in action between the Iarrangement of Fig. and the arrangement of Fig. 7 is'occasioned by thelooseness of the rolls 5, in the ring of the Fig. 7 for as indicated inFig. 8, the rotation of the containing ring R, causes one end of eachroll to lag behind its other end so that the rolls assume oblique ring.In other words each roll that is allowed such latitude of movementwithin the ring, will bear upon the containing ring at its ends and willlie in a plane which intersects the axis of the tubing. The parallelrolls of Figs. and 6 serve to condense the metal of the tube and therebyreduce its diameter, and also serve to roll down and polish the tubessurface. The rolls of Figs. 7 and 8, perform the same functions. but inaddition, they operate as cross rolls and tend to propel the tubelongitudinally.v

The sleeves 4 and 5 are equipped with respective pulleys or drivers 7and 8. Thrust bearings 9 arranged between the ends of the-pulleys andthe adjacent bearing blocks 2, prevent endWise movement of the sleeves 4and 5 in their bearings. These pulleys 7 belts 7 and 8.

positions in the containing The rotation of the closely contacting rollsS has a tendency to twist the tubing T, and to counteract this tendency,I'prefer to drive the roll containing sleeves 4: and 5 in oppositedirections, as indicated by the crossed belts shown in Fig. 2. Exceptfor this possible twisting of the tube, and in cases where the strengthof the article to be reduced and polished is more than suificient toovercome the twisting effort of the rolls, all of the rolls required todo the work may be arranged in a single direction rotary member orsleeve. In either case, I admit Water under pressure to the rollcontaining sleeve or sleeves, as by a supply pipe 11. The water flows inboth directions within the sleeves and among the rolls,.fi'nding escapeat the ends of .the sleeve or sleeves. In

passing between the tube and the rolls, the

' be understood that the inner cylindrical surfaces of the several ringsare likewise hardened and ground. The smoothness of these parts istransmitted or communicated to the surface of the tubes in the coldrolling process described. The rolling action is so rapid that thetubing may be fed through the mechanism at the rate of many feet perminute.

I prefer that the rolls in the receiving end of the mechanism shall beof the form and arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8. \Yhen so arrangedthe rapidly rotating rolls exert avery considerable pulling force ilponthe non-rotating tubing T. This force may be utilized as the only forcefor feeding the tubiirliin cases where adequate means are provided forpreventing the rotation of the tubing. However, the special advantage ofthe Figs. 7 and 8 arrangement, lies in the cross rolling effect of"rolls arranged at slightly oblique angles to the tubing, whichfacilitates the reduction of the tubing.

Whatever the relative size and arrangement of the rolls in the sleeve 5,I prefer that the terminal series of rolls or the last several series ofrolls shall have an internal working circumference which is notappreciably less than the working circumference of the last series ofrolls which is relied upon to reduce the size of the tubing. Themultiplication of rolls of the same Working circumference insures a highfinish or polish upon the surface of the. tubing.

VVhereI rely upon the first used series of rolls to markedly reduce thediameter of the against the propelling effort of the rolls in the sleeve4.

The rolls may be either smooth surfaced,

as shown in Fig. 9, or may contain spiral clearance grooves,.as showninpFig. 10. I

find the smooth rolls to be better under most circumstances.

Before leaving the description of the mechanism, desire to explain thatin rollmg mechanisms for the larger sizes of tubing I inclose the rollsof each annular series with an individual cage which prevents possibledisarrangement of the rolls in their containing ring.

Having described-the several steps of the process in the early part ofthis specification I deem it unnecessary to repeat that description forthe purpose of further identifying the several steps of the process withthose parts of the mechanism which are utilized in performing them.

Thus far in my experience with the process herein described I havesecured the best results by feeding, or allowing the tubing to feed,forward at a speed of from three to five feet per minute and by rotatingthe roll containing sleeve or sleeves at a speed approximating fivethousand revolutions per minute. On the other hand I have securedadmirable results by feeding the tubing at a different rate of speed andby cold rolling the same at a much lower roller speed. All results showthat my piocess is capable of modification through a great range ofspeeds, roller pressures, roller arrangements, etc., and I do notconfine or limit my invention to the precise limits herein specificallyset forth, except as required by the claims hereunto appended.

This application is restricted to the process. The novel product orarticle of manufacture herein described is claimed. in my co-pendingdivisional application Serial No. 790,775, filed September 19, 1913.Thenovel mechanisms herein disclosed are described and claimed in mydivisional application Serial No. 790,776, filed September 19, 1913,,and in my application Serial N 0. L625, filed January 27, 1915.

Having thus described my invention I claimas new and desire to secure byLet ters Patent v 1. The herein described process of reducing andfinishing tubing, that consists in simultaneously holding the tubingagainst rotation moving, it longitudinally forward at a substantiallyconstant, speed and cross rolling the tubing in progressive stages.

2. The herein described process'of reducing and finishing tubing at twopoints, that consists in simultaneously holding the tubing againstrotation and simultaneously feeding the same forward andcircumferentially rolling the same at relatively high speed between saidholding points.

3. The herein described process of 'reducing and finishing tubing, thatconsists in simultaneously holding the tubing against rotation andsimultaneously feeding the same forward and cold rolling the same at anumber of points at relatively high speed.

4,. The herein described process of reducing and finishing tubing, thatconsists in cross rolling and circumferentially cold rollmg the tubing1n progressive stages, during constant forward movement of the tubingand meantime restraining the tubing against rotation.

5. The cold rolling process of reducing, polishing, and finishing tubingthat consists in positively holding the tubing against rotation, movingthe tubing longitudinally and acting upon the same by successive seriesof .circumferentially arranged water-lubricated cross rolls.

6. The herein described cold rolling process of reducing, polishing, andfinishing tubing that consists in holding the tubing against rotation,moving it longitudinally and acting upon the surface thereof by aplurality of circumferential series of rolls of slightly diminishingworking circumferences.

7. The herein described cold rolling process of reducing, polishing, andfinishing tubing that consists in firmly holding the tubing againstrotation, moving-it longitudinally and acting upon the surface thereofby a plurality of circumferential series of rolls formed with.diminishing working circumferences and rotated in different directionsto avoid twisting the tubing.

' 8. The herein described cold rolling process of polishing andfinishingtubing which consists in holding the tubing firmly againstrotation, acting .upon the surface thereof by circumferentially arrangedand rotating series of rolls the axes of which are slightly oblique tothe axis of the tubing whereby the tubing is simultaneously rolled andforwarded.

9; The process of surface finishing and polishing metal tubes andsimilar articles which consists in feeding the tubing forward at asubstantially constant rate of speed, fixedly holding the tubing againstrotation and at the same time subjecting the tubing to the reluctantrotative action of a plurality of encompassing series. of slightlycompressive rolls.

10. The cold rolling process of polishing meta-l tubing that consists infeeding the tubing forward at a substantially constant rate of speedwhile fixedlyholding the same against rotation and at the same time sub-In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set jecting the tubing to the highspeed relucmy hand, this 26th day of July, 1912, in the tent rotativeaction of an encompassing se-' presence of two subscribin witnesses.

ries of slightly compressive rolls which are i MARSHALL BU NS LLOYD. -5of smaller diameter than the tubing; where- Witnesses:

lay a fine circumferentially grained surface Lnoxn,

is produced upon the tubing. Ham (3. Pm'nnson.

